Food for the Soul

The great secret of succeeding in conversation is to admire little, to hear much; always to distrust our own reason, and sometimes that of our friends; never to pretend to wit, but to make that of others appear as much as possibly we can; to hearken to what is said and to answer to the purpose.- Benjamin Franklin, 1706-1790

The first ingredient in conversation is truth, the next good sense,
the third good humor, and the fourth wit.- Sir William Temple, 1628-1699

The true spirit of conversation consists in building on another’s observation, not overturning it.- Edward G. Bulwer-Lytton, 1803 – 1873

The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. - Jean de la Bruyere, 1803 – 1873